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Unlicensed: meaning, definitions and examples

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unlicensed

 

[ ʌnˈlaɪsnsd ]

Adjective
Context #1 | Adjective

legal status

Unlicensed refers to something that is not authorized or permitted by law. This term is commonly used in contexts such as businesses, professionals, or activities that require official licensing to operate legally.

Synonyms

illegitimate, illicit, unapproved, unauthorized

Examples of usage

  • He was caught driving an unlicensed vehicle.
  • The unlicensed clinic was shut down by health authorities.
  • Operating an unlicensed business can lead to severe penalties.

Translations

Translations of the word "unlicensed" in other languages:

🇵🇹 sem licença

🇮🇳 बिना लाइसेंस का

🇩🇪 ung lizenzierte

🇮🇩 tanpa lisensi

🇺🇦 нелегальний

🇵🇱 bez licencji

🇯🇵 無許可の

🇫🇷 sans licence

🇪🇸 sin licencia

🇹🇷 lisansız

🇰🇷 무면허의

🇸🇦 بدون ترخيص

🇨🇿 bez licence

🇸🇰 bez licencie

🇨🇳 无许可证的

🇸🇮 brez licence

🇮🇸 óleyfilega

🇰🇿 лицензиясыз

🇬🇪 უკანონო

🇦🇿 lisenziyasız

🇲🇽 sin licencia

Word origin

The word unlicensed is formed by the prefix 'un-', meaning 'not', and the word 'licensed', which comes from the Latin 'licentia', meaning 'freedom, permission'. 'Licentia' itself comes from the root 'licere', which means 'to be permitted'. The usage of 'licensed' in English can be traced back to the 15th century, where it referred to being given permission or authority, especially in legal or official contexts. Over time, adding the prefix 'un-' evolved the term to denote the absence of such permission or authority. It has increasingly been applied in modern contexts, particularly concerning regulations and compliance in sectors like healthcare, finance, and transportation.

Word Frequency Rank

With rank #18,035, this word belongs to specialized vocabulary. While not common in everyday speech, it enriches your ability to express complex ideas.